Oakland Coliseum in USA likely to host 2024 T20 World Cup

Vaitla Saikrishna

The ninth edition of the Men's T20 World Cup will be jointly hosted by the West Indies and the United States in 2024. The Oakland Coliseum in California, has emerged as the potential venue to host the final. 


It's a multi-purpose stadium and the home ground of Oakland Athletics in Major League Baseball (MLB) and formerly the Oakland Raiders' home in the National Football League (NFL).


According to the ESPNCricinfo report, ICC CEO Geoff Allardice and development head Will Glenwright recently met with USA Cricket officials in California, and they discussed the venue for the final.


The stadium was built in 1996 and lacks many of the luxuries found in most American outdoor stadiums, but it has two significant features that can attract cricket administrators. First, it is located in the East Bay of northern California, just north of Silicon Valley, which is home to a flourishing local grassroots cricket scene as well as a wealthy expatriate cricket fan base that officials hope to tap into.


It has a seating capacity of 53,000, which is more than any currently available multi-purpose cricket stadium in the United States. Church Street Park in North Carolina has been expanded to accommodate 4,000 spectators, while two other USA ODI grounds in Lauderhill and Texas can handle 10,000 spectators in the stadium and could be expanded to hold up to 15,000-20,000 spectators.


According to ESPNcricinfo, other venues do not have ODI status but might be considered. Prairie View Cricket Complex in suburban Houston and AirHogs Stadium just outside Dallas have yet to break ground on improvements after a lease was obtained in 2020.


The Oakland Coliseum will face some challenges in hosting the T20 World Cup matches. The time zone will be the main concern for the broadcasters as it is the Pacific time zone at the stadium. However, it can be avoided by hosting double headers, which can be suitable for the UK time zone.


One more concern is that the tournament will take place in June, which is the middle of the baseball season. Cricket officials will have to use drop-in pitches, and only two or three matches will happen at the same venue. Athletics and MLB's regulating bodies would have to adjust their timetable. 


Local administrators are considering hosting the T20 World Cup at this venue. And they are planning to host the exhibition matches by the end of 2023. If they get approval after the completion of the baseball season, exhibition matches will happen in October and November.


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